Segment Reporting and Geographic Information - Summary of Segmented Data (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	$ 19,560us-gaap_Revenues	$ 20,288us-gaap_Revenues
Intersegment revenues
Segment gross profit	6,638ACFN_SegmentGrossProfit	7,503ACFN_SegmentGrossProfit
Impairment of goodwill and intangibles	1,773	6,731
Restructuring and related charges	294	594
Depreciation and amortization	646ACFN_SegmentDepreciationAndAmortization	1,053ACFN_SegmentDepreciationAndAmortization
Segment net income (loss) before income taxes	(6,844)	(16,117)
Segment assets	18,258us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets	20,789us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets	18,258us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets	20,789us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets
Expenditures for segment assets	393	1,468
Energy & Security Sonar Solutions Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	11,200	11,815
Intersegment revenues
Segment gross profit	3,272	3,817
Impairment of goodwill and intangibles
Restructuring and related charges
Depreciation and amortization	287	247
Segment net income (loss) before income taxes	(414)	(243)
Segment assets	12,118	11,219	12,118	11,219
Expenditures for segment assets	278	333
GridSense segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers			4,493	5,026
Intersegment revenues
Segment gross profit			1,297	1,828
Impairment of goodwill and intangibles			1,773
Restructuring and related charges			198	594
Depreciation and amortization			242	342
Segment net income (loss) before income taxes			(4,831)	(4,336)
Segment assets	3,680	6,400	3,680	6,400
Expenditures for segment assets			6	14
M2M [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	2,174	1,671
Intersegment revenues
Segment gross profit	1,182	867
Impairment of goodwill and intangibles		5,341
Restructuring and related charges	76
Depreciation and amortization	69	336
Segment net income (loss) before income taxes	(1,698)	(9,492)
Segment assets	1,663	2,300	1,663	2,300
Expenditures for segment assets		750
Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	1,693	1,776
Intersegment revenues
Segment gross profit	888	991
Impairment of goodwill and intangibles		1,390
Restructuring and related charges	20
Depreciation and amortization	48	128
Segment net income (loss) before income taxes	99	(2,046)
Segment assets	797	870	797	870
Expenditures for segment assets	$ 44	$ 295

Intersegment revenues.

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- Definition

Segment depreciation and amortization

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Segment gross profit.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Segment net income (loss) before income taxes

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Total loss recognized during the period from the impairment of goodwill plus the loss recognized in the period resulting from the impairment of the carrying amount of intangible assets, other than goodwill.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Long-lived assets other than financial instruments, long-term customer relationships of a financial institution, mortgage and other servicing rights, deferred policy acquisition costs, and deferred tax assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 280

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 41

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6534315&loc=d3e9038-108599

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- Definition

The cash outflow for purchases of and capital improvements on property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (c)

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- Definition

Discloses the amount charged against the accrued restructuring reserves, or earnings if not previously accrued, during the period for the specified type of restructuring cost.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b))

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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section P

-Subsection 3, 4

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- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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